Left to rot from the insides: Poachers use poison arrow to kill elephant for his tusks

A FOUR ton elephant was left to slowly rot from the inside after cruel poachers shot it with a poisoned arrow.

The elephant had been condemned to a slow, agonising death by a poisoned arrow[Barcroft]

Vets had to act fast to save the young bull's life after the horrific wound began to slowly kill him.

The youngster is the latest to fall victim to poachers targeting animals for their prized ivory.

The world's elephant population is estimated to have dropped from 1.3 million in 1979 to 400,000 today.

This stricken elephant was discovered in Kenya and his wound meant that he was struggling to keep up with his herd.

He was tranquillised by medics from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Kenyan Wildlife Service who then cut open a huge abscess on the elephant's side that discharged a mixture of puss and sand.

A large piece of dead muscle was also removed from the stricken animal.

The young bull was knocked out by vets using a tranquiliser dart [Barcroft]

Rob Brandford, a director of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, said: "A dart was fired at the base of the bull's tail but the team had to retreat as a larger bull came by.

"After rolling him on to his side, the team had to work quickly and three vets began treating the severe wound which was giving off a putrid smell.

"After cutting a hole in the huge abscess and removing dead muscle, the vets cleaned the wound and removed the arrow which had caused the elephant so much suffering.

"Water was continuously poured on to the wound which was then packed with green clay before he was brought around.

"He regained consciousness and two minutes later was standing on his feet - luckily this young bull will live to see another day."

The animal had been hit by a poisoned dart [Barcroft]

Last year the trust saved the lives of 188 elephants, most of which had been cruelly targeted by poachers trying to satisfy an insatiable appetite for ivory in the Far East.

Mr Brandford added: "Around 35,000 African elephants were killed by poachers last year - the equivalent of one every 15 minutes.

"At this rate there will be no wild elephants on the continent in 2025.

"This elephant was targeted by poachers who used a slow acting but effective poison which could bring about instant death if administered to humans.

"With elephants it takes a lot longer and causes a slow and agonising death.

"Whilst the lethal poison takes effect entering the bloodstream and leaving behind dead neocratic flesh, poachers will track and follow the elephant, before hacking of its tusks when it is dead or nearly dead."